50% would shun eco-cars if VED rose

Nearly 50% of drivers say they would not consider a more environmentally-friendly car if there was a rise in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) tax breaks, a poll found.

Almost half also believe it is fair that VED on vehicles is based on the amount of CO2 pumped out.

Abreakdown of poll results showed that 32% think the price of parking permits should consider the size or length of a car, as the larger it is, the more expensive the VED.

Fewer than one in three people (29%) believes each driver should pay an equal amount. Only 5% of those who were polled by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said that the CO2 a car produces should affect the cost of a permit.

Low Emission Zones (LEZs) had more popularity. The zones were brought in in London in 2008 to cut the pollution emitted by heavy diesel vehicles.

A total of 46% of motorists believe LEZs should also be brought in for private vehicles, while 41% disagreed with this.

The poll found that 22% of drivers think global warming is not affected by driving.

Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: "Eco-friendly vehicles haven't got the appeal so much so motorists are willing to pay higher costs in VED to compromise. Motorists aren't fully convinced of how low CO2 emissions are beneficial to them, or society."